Park Mont Boron
 Photo: Park Mont Boron

Park Mont Boron in Nice visits not every tourist, and for good reason: it's an amazing part of the life of the famous resort.

Occupying 57 acres of the park is rightly called the green lungs of the town. It is situated in the eastern part of the city, between the port and bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, on the Mount Boron height of 191 meter (her name is called, and the park). This raised a walk, picnic and enjoy the magnificent views.

Hundreds of thousands of years ago there was a camp of primitive people. On the west side of the mountain, close to the sea, it is known since 1821 Lazarus cave in which were found the remains of humans and animals (including the long-extinct woolly rhinoceros) and stone tools. Archaeologists believe that the cave was a winter parking preneandertaltsev hunters.

Much later, in the Middle Ages, this place is often the battle occurred. After residents of the city got rid of the Moors captured the mountain (one of the legends explaining the origin of the name of the mountain, they drove the monk Bobon), for strategic reasons, it was decided to cut down the whole forest on it. In the XVI century in the northern part of the mountain was built a fort of Mont Alban (a fine example of military architecture of the time), and at the end of XIX century in the southern part of the fortress was built Mont Boron. Both structures had to guard and defend against possible incursions Nice.

In 1862, the city planned to restore the cut forests. Solution of the problem was assigned a forestry engineer Prosper Demonze. For four years, where cattle grazed before, appeared the bulk of greenery. Would be correct to call it is not a park and a forest park. There are no beds and fountains - just trees (cedar, eucalyptus, cypress, Aleppo pine, stone oaks, olives, pistachio mastic), shrubs (juniper, buckthorn, prickly pear), wild flowers (dwarf carnation, orchid, freesia).

Roads and paths with a total length of eleven kilometers winds among fragrant bushes. The park is mainly between the two forts. The shady groves are located on the top few dozen simple wooden tables with benches. Locals happy to picnics in the park, but here you can find solitude always, even on weekends.

After lunch in the open air should definitely visit the viewing platform near both forts. Inside the fortress is not allowed (although interesting to explore, even the walls themselves - a walk around the fort Mont Boron takes about forty minutes, on the way across the bench). But the main thing here is still not inside, but outside - stunning views. Fort Mont Alban perfectly visible bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat cape at the other shore. There, on a promontory, it is one of the jewels of the Riviera - a hamlet of Saint-Jacques-Cap-Ferrat, a favorite vacation spot of aristocrats and millionaires. Fort Mont Boron see the whole of Nice and the Bay of Angels. And if you look right - sea, blue sea to the horizon. It will be exciting.

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